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3KYBOY 



A PLAY FOR LITTLE FOLKS 



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BY 

GERTRUDE KNEVELS 




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PUBLISHED BY wy 

H THE CAMP FIRE OUTFITTING CO. H 

^ \r-l9 WEST irth STREET ^ 

[J NEW YORK r: 



Copyright 1915 
|The Camp Fir* Outfitting Co. 



SKYBOY 



A PLAY FOR LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS WITH 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COSTUMES 

AND DANCES 



By GERTRUDE KNEVELS 




PUBLISHED BY 

THE CAMP FIRE OUTFITTING CO. 

17-19 WEST 17th STREET 
NEW YORK 






Characters : | ^ I S 

Mother Bluebird 

Father Bluebird 

Skyboy, their eldest sou 

Featherkin ■> 

Rufflekin I , t,, , • ^ 

^ „ , . V ^ ^ry young Bluebirds : 

Pufflekin T 

Pliunpy ) 

Jack Sparrow 

Gobbler . 

Guzzler I ^ ,wt v,^ c 

o, ^ ^ V Four Naughty Sparrows: 

Snatcher r 

Squeak ' 
Cock Robin 
Jenny Wren 
Judge Owl 
If it Is desired to provide parts for a larger number of 
players than is here indicated, other bluebirds or bird neigh- 
bors, may accompany Mother Bluebird on her second en- 
trance, and join in dance at close of play. 



COSTUMES FOR THE PLAY 

Plan No. 1. If time and expense must be closely econ- 
omized, let the children who take the parts of bluebirds 
wear the regular dress of the Bluebird organizaton. In this 
case the costumes of Cock Robin, Jenny Wren. Judge Owl, 
and the Sparrows should be made on the same general lines. 
For the coloring of these last consult the illustrations in 
any good bird book. (See Reed's Bird Guide, Part 2.) 

I'roportion. must, of course. l>e considered ; that is the 
part of Judge Owl should be taken by the tallest of the 
children. He should have a curved beak and large round 
eyes made by pasting a circle of yellow paper on a circle of 

y 2 ■ 

^^■^''^^'^ SEP 25 1915 



SiKYliOY 

black. Eyes and beak can be attached to bis helmet cap. 
The feathers on his grayish brown droits should be cut 
square or rounded, on the ends, not pointed. Robin Red- 
breast must be stuffed to look very fat, Jenny Wren should 
be small, slim, and dainty. The sparrows. Jack in particular, 
are bold, swaggering fellows, their feathers ruffled and 
untidy. 

rian No. 2. In case a closer illusion is desired, costumes 
on the lines of the cuts furnished can Ite made at small ex- 
pense. The material may be cotton flannel or a like material 
and the suits made on the order of rompers reaching from 
neck to knee. If preferred, tunics can be worn over knicker- 
bockers. In either case the suits should be of tJie bird's 
characteristic colors, the feathers sewed on as they are on 
the Bluebird dress. Helmet shaped hoods are worn. It 
is suggested that trousers may give a more bird-like effect 
than skirts, especially when a tail, carefully shaped and 
heavily wired, is attached to the waist at back. Stockings 
and slippers of same color as dress should be v.-orn, the 
toes of slippers may be covered with cloth nv.l wired out 
iu sharp points. 



HOPPING DANCE 
Accompanying song, "Hippy, hoppy, hippy hop" Page 4. 

In varying or elaborating this simple little dance to suit 
individual taste, it need only be remembered that real blue- 
birds hop on both feet like robins, and do not walk like 
starlings. If all the children who take part in the play 
will study the birds they are to impersonate before coming 
to rehearsal, their pleasure in the work and the educational 
benefit they derive from it will be greatly increased. 

Directions for Dance and Song. Tune — "Yankee Doodle." 

On rise of curtain, Featherkin, Rufflekin, Pufflekin and 
Plumpy, the four little bluebirds, are seen standing side by 
side, facing the audience. 

Verse 1 — While singing first line, all hop forward on both 
feet, 4 hops. L'nd line sung standing still. 3rd line ; Each 
3 



SKYBOY 

bird hops round in place; 4 liops, facing audience on 4th 
count. 4th line sung standing still. 

Verse 2 — 1st line sung standing still, all bow on last word. 
2ud line: All raise and lower wings in "flying" motion, 
bending twice to right, twice to left. 3rd line sung standing 
still until word "hop"' when all hop forward once. 4th line 
sung standing still. 

Verse 3 — 1st line, hop backward on both feet 4 hops. 
Rest same as first verse except that all bow low on last 
word and hop once in place. While music continues, 
birds face left and follow leader round in circle 4 hops. 
Turn quickly, 4 hops to right. Face in. 4 hops in, 4 hops 
back. Each hops 4 times round in place. Face right. 4 
hops etc. Repeat, if desired. Break circle and go to meet 
Mother Bluebird. 



8KYB0Y 
TIME : Afternoon in Birdland. 

SCENE : Any simple outdoor setting — a green lawn or bit 
of garden with hedge in background. Entrances between 
bushes at right and left. At rise of curtain, Featherkin, 
Rufflekin, PufHekin and I'lumpy, the four small Blue- 
birds, are seen side by side, facing audience. They hop 
forward as they sing. See description Hopping Dance. 
Music, "Yankee Doodle." 
Young Birds sing: 

Hippy, hoppy, hippy, hop! 
Hopping is such fun-oh ! 
Hopping's very hard to stop 
When once you have begun-oh ! 

Happy baby bii-ds are we. 
Some day we will fly-oli ! 
Now we'd rather hop, you see, 
While our dear Mother's by-oh ! 

Hippy, hoppy, hippy, hop ! 
Hopping is such fun-oh ! 

! 4 



SKYBUY 

Hopping's very hard to stop 
When once you have I)egun-oh ! 
(Enter Mother Bluebird. Small birds luvak circle and 
flutter toward her. She takes centre of stage.) 
Young Birds : Oh Mother, Mother Bluebird ! 
Mother B. Children dear I — 

I'm going now to hunt for food, 
Stay here and promise to be good. 
Featherkiu: (coaxingly) Please take us with you, 

Mother, please ! 
Mother B. No, you're too little, dears, don't tease. 
Rufflekin : Oh Mother, Mother, don't say that — 
Pufflekin : Such tales you've told of TOMMY-CAT— 
Plumpy : And what if naughty birds annoy? 

Who'll help us then? 
Mother B. Skyboy ! (she goes toward R. uul calls) 
Skyboy ! 
(Bluebird note is heard answering faintly in distance.) 
Mother B. (proudly) He comes! Your brother's voice 
I've heard, 
No cruel cat or stranger bird 

Will dare my little ones ainioy 1 

While he is near. 

(Note repeated close by, clearly and loudly. The bluebird 

notes and other bird calls throughout play should be very 

carefully imitated by some person who understands them 

thoroughly. ) 

Young birds : Welcome, Skyboy ! 
(Skyboy "flies" in, fluttering and circling about stage 
once or twice, then pausing centre-front to speak. His wing 
movements illustrate si)eech, every motion being proud and 
joyous. ) 

Skyboy : Joy ! Joy ! Joy ! 

Well have you named me Skyboy. 
High. high, high! 
T'p to the roof of the sky. 
Up. up, on without rest. 



SKYBOY 

Then down, down to my nest — 

Homeward I fly ! 
Mother B. Oh rash, so rash, dear foolish one. 

My bold Skyboy, my fearless sou ! 

Brave wings rise high, yet I confess 

Such flights your mother's heart distress. 

In my low nest you had your birth, 

True happiness lies close to earth. 

Now rest, and while I'm gone take care 

Of these, my little ones. Beware 

All dangers, Skyboy. Do not stray! 

From naughty Sparrows keep aivay! 

Watch close lest any harm come near — 
Skyboy (impatiently) — Dear foolish Mother, have no 
fear, 

For surely you must understand. 

No harm could come when Fm at hand ! 
Mother B. Then I'll be off— (hurries off R.) Goodby !— 
Young Birds : — Goodby ! 
Skyboy (sulkily) Not meant for fledgling's nurse was I ! 

If in this stupid place I stay, 

I'll call my friends to come and play. 
Featherkin : (hopping to left and cocking head to listen) 

Call Jenny Wren ! On yonder bough 

Her pretty song she's singing now ! 
(Loud joyous note of house-wren is heard outside, several 
times repeated.) 

Skyboy : I will not play with Jenny Wren, 

She's stupid as a barnyard hen ! 

In box or blind she builds her nest. 

Such homely ways I do detest. 
I'ufilekin : (hopping to right, and cocking head to listen) 

Dear Robin Red-breast — hear his c^i!'! 

The gayest, bravest bird of all. 
(All listen. Cheery note of Robin is heard, several times 
repeated. ) 

Skyboy : That greedy bird's too fat to play — 

His weight he eats ten times a day ! 
6 



SKY BUY 

(Sparrow's loud cheeping heard outside.) 

No, no — ah, swift as darting arrow — 
Who comes this way? My chum — Jack Sparrow ! 
(Enter Jack Sparrow, swaggering and cheeping loudly.) 
Kufflekin (reproachfully) But, Brother, what did 

Mother say? 
Three Young Birds (solemly) 

"From naughty Sparrows keep aicai/!" 
Skyboy : But Jack's my friend! Ah Jack, — 
Jack: (loudly) — Good day! 

Skyboy (enviously) Dear me, what pleasant things 
we'd (li>, 

If I were free to fly like you. 
Jack: Not free to fly? What keeps you here? 
. Skyboy : I have to watch lest harm come near 
These children. Mother said to stay 
Till she returns at close of day. 
Jack (strutting to and fro across stage and mocking 
Skyboy. ) 

"His Mother said" — upon my word— 
Ha, ha ! This good obedient bird, 
Skyboy, stays home and minds his mother ! 
Plays nurse to sister and to brother, 
While Jolly Jack can sport and play ! 
See, Stupid, see — I'll cha.se away 
These gaping babies. Ha, what fun — 
Too young to fl3' — too w-eak to run ! 
(He pecks savagely at young birds and chases them 
around stage. They hide behind Skyboy who spreads wings 
in front of them.) 

Skyboy : Stop, stop, you shall not hurt them. No ! 

Go — i:)r I'll call my Mother — Go! 
Jack (mocking him) Yes, call your mother, Baby — do! 
From miles away she'll answer you. 
(Pecks at Skyboy.) 
Skyboy (drooping wing) Oh, oh, I'm wounded! 
Featherkin — 

Run children, run — call Robin in. 
7 



SKYBOY 

(Small birds go out.) 

The wrens will heli>— Make haste — 
Jack : — Ho, ho ! 

Yes, help is ueeded, babies, go ! 
(ToSkyboy) 

Both Wren and Robin overheard • 
Y'our rude remarks, you silly bird ! 
They will not come. Good friends have I— 
Ho, Sparrows, brother-rascals, fly— 
Ho, Gobbler, Guzzler, Snatcher, Squeak- 
Gome help me now witli claws and l)eak. 
We'll tear his heart out, you and I — 
Skyboy must die^Skyboy must die ! 
(Loud noise of cheeping outside. Pinter Gobbler, Guzzler,. 
Snatcher and Squeak who fuss and flutter about Skyboy 
without daring to get within reach of his beak.) 

Gobbler: What is it. Friend Jack? Ah — a Bluebird 

to kill! 
(iuzzler : Of fighting and miscliief we'll all have our fill ! 
Jack (standing back) Quick, at him. Gobbler! Strike 
him. Squeak ! 

One blow will do from your sharp beak ! 
Squeak (turning on Jack) From mine, yes, mine — 
That's very fine — 
While you. Friend Jack, 
Will turn your back ! 
Jack (to others) Who'll lead the way? 
Snatch: Not I today! 
(Puzzler: What's that I hear? 
Gobbler: His friends are near — 
Squeak : Quick— let's away ! (they liurry olf L.) 
Jack : Stay, cowards, stay ! 
(He tries to escape also but is held back by Skyboy. 
Bird notes heard close at hand from right. Enter hurriedly 
Mother Bluebird, Father B. the young birds, Jenny Wren, 
and Cock Robin. Jack Sparrow is caught and held between. 
Father B. and Cock Robin.) 
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SKYBOY 

Father B. To late. Jack Sparrow! (to Robin) Hold 

him fast ! 
Mother B. Skyboy, my sou, you're safe at last ! 
Skyboy : (drooping head and looking much ashamed.) 
()h Mother, Father, neij^hbors kind, 
This was my fault. I would not mind. 
Your warnings wise I did not heed ; 
But I am punished — yes, indeed! (shows wing) 
Robin : Cheer up ! This wounded wiug will mend 

As qxiickly as your manners, Friend ! 
Wren : Don't scold. Cock Robin ; pray, don't tease ! 
Now, neighbors, lefs consider, please, 
What shall be done with Jacky here? — 
Father B. Judge Owl will try his case, don't fear ! 
The Birds : Judge Owl ! Judge Owl ! Judge Owl ! 
(The call is answered by solemn "Who? W^ho?" of Owl 
outside. Enter Judge Owl from right. He is very solemn 
and dignified. Birds bow low and allow him to pass to 
front. ) 

Judge Owl : Well, here am I this case to try, 
Pray trot your Prisoner out, Sirs. 
What has he done? Speak, one by one! 
What's all this fuss about. Sirs? 

Mother B : I'll be first witness, hear me speak — 
My baby birds, my fledgings weak, 
'Ere I had scarcely turned my back, 
This rascal sparrow did attack ! 

Kfibiii : Worse yet, the sparrow-folk increase 
So fast we singers have no peace. 
The food our kindly Brother Man 
Spreads day by day for us we can 
But rarely reach. These robbers come 
And steal it all — yes, every crumb ! 

Jenny Wren : In towns Jack Sparrow used to dwell. 
His ugly coat is suited well 
To dust and dirt. Now with alarm 
We see his folk crowd field and farm. 
9 



SKYBOY 

With thieving, fighting, noise, and fuss 

No joy in life they leave to us! 
Judge Owl (very solemnly to Jack Sparrow) 

From all I hear, I sadly fear 
Your latest song is sung, Sir. 

What friend will plead in your sad need? 
No, Jack — you shall be hung, Sir ! 
Jack (appealing to birds) Wliat? Robin Red-breast? 
Jenny Wren? 

Will no bird speak? Must I die, then? 
Skyboy (coming forward) 

I'll speak, I'll help, indeed I wiy ! 

Jack Sparrow did not mean to kill 

His friend, Skyboy ! Now, while I tell 

Of things that long ago befell, 

Have patience, friends and neighbors, do. 

The story I'll relate to you, 

Grandfather Eagle who's so old 

To me has very often told. 

In eighteeu-fiftj- — long ago — 

A pest of worms plagued Mankind so— 

Worms swarmed each tree and ate each leaf. 

The thing was almost past belief ! 

Man called the birds, but those who flew 

To help were all — alas^too few ; 

And some rejoiced, and would not aid. 

Thinking Man's crimes to birds repaid. 

But Man is wise as well as strong, 

That pest he did not suffer long. 

From England, far across the sea, 

He fetched a tiny bird to be 

The death of wicked worms. Now guess — 

That bird was named — 

Birds in chorus : — Jack Sparrow ! — 

Skyboy : Yes ! — 

The Great-Grandfather of poor Jack 
Whose crimes today we paint so black. 
Though Man hates Jack, his debt forgot, 
10, 



SKYBOY 

Let birds be merciful, and not 
Deprive him iif liis life — 

Roltin : Wliat, what— 

You'd let liim go? 
Jack (appealingly) Yes, yes! 
.Several birds : — Not so ! — 
Judge Owl (sternly) Silence, I say I I-^.nougli, today — 

My sentence I will give now — 

If far away, Jack, you will stay, 

We'll kindly let you live now. 

Remember, .should the Sparrow brood 

The Singing Birds annoy, Sir, 

Friend Man and we their death will be — 

Y'our life you owe Skyboy, Sir ! 
(Judge Owl bows to Skyboy.) 

Jack (joyfully) I will l)e good. I'll go, I'll go, 
Pray let me loose ! I'm free—ho, ho ! 
(As they free him, he flutters off right, then stops and 
looks back at Skyboy.) 

Jack : Farewell. Skyboy. no more you'll see 
Your naughty friend on bush or tree. 
Though far away Jack Sparrow stays. 
He'll not forget you all his days ! 

Skyboy : Goodbye ! I'll think of you — ah yes I 
(Jack goes out.) 
Father B: Come. Friends, we've had enough. I guess 
Of care and sadness. Let's rejoice ! 

Kobin : Yes, let us dance ! All birds make choice 

Of partners. Jenny. I'll choose you. (bows to 
Wren. ) 

Jenny Wren: (returning bow) 

First, dears, a merry thing we'll do ; 
A circle we will form — just so (birds form circle.) 
Now in the middle who shall go? 
What bird's our pride? What bird's our joy? 
Whom shall we choose? — 
11 



SKYBUY 

Birds : Skyboy ! Skyboy ! ( Skyboy enters circle. All 

birds bow low.) 
Birds : Yes. now we'll dance, and sing our joy ! 
Skyboy*s our King — Skyboy ! Skyboy ! 
(All birds dance merrily round Skyboy. Music — "Yankee 
Doodle." ) 



CURTAIN. 



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